Stepping motor and driving apparatus

ABSTRACT

A stepping motor is provided, which includes: exciting coils; a rotor provided with a plurality of N/S poles so as to rotate following a change of an excitation state of the exciting coils; and a detecting coil provided separately from the exciting coils so as to generate induction voltage according to rotation of the rotor. And, a driving apparatus including the stepping motor is provided, which further includes: a driven member linked with the rotor; a stopper to mechanically stop the driven member at a predetermined position; a first exciting means to normally or reversely rotate the rotor by controlling the excitation state of the exciting coils; a second exciting means to reverse the rotor in a direction of making the driven member move toward the predetermined position by controlling the excitation state of the exciting coils; a position detecting means to detect the driven member having abutted the stopper and stopped at the predetermined position on a basis of induction voltage generated in the detecting coil during control by the second exciting means; and a controlling means which stops the first exciting means controlling and starts the second exciting means controlling when an instruction signal is inputted, and which starts the first exciting means controlling and stops the second exciting means controlling when the position detecting means detects the driven member having stopped at the predetermined position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a stepping motor and a driving apparatus and, more particularly, to a stepping motor provided with exciting coils and a rotor provided with N/S poles so as to rotate following an excitation state of the exciting coils and also to a driving apparatus to drive a driven member by means of rotation of the stepping motor.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] An indicating apparatus, wherein a pointer for indicating, for example, a speed of a vehicle or a rotation speed of an engine is a driven member, is conventionally known as a driving apparatus having a stepping motor. The above indicating apparatus, as shown in FIG. 5, has a stepping motor 1 having exciting coils 1 a 1, 1 a 2 and a rotor 1 b on which five sets of N/S poles are magnetized in turn and which rotates following a change of an excitation state of the exciting coils 1 a 1, 1 a 2, a pointer 2 being linked with the rotational drive of the rotor 1 b, a gear 3 to transmit the rotational drive of the rotor 1 b to the pointer 2, and a drive controller 4 to rotate the rotor 1 b normally or reversely by controlling the excitation state of the exciting coils 1 a 1, 1 a 2.

[0005] Hereinafter, a relation between an excitation state of the exciting coils 1 a 1, 1 a 2 and rotation of the rotor 1 b is described with reference to FIGS. 6A-6H. First, in an excitation state regulated at excitation step S1, that is, the b-side of the exciting coil 1 a 2 becomes an non-excited state and the exciting coil 1 a 2 becomes the S pole, the N pole of the rotor 1 b is attracted toward the a-side of the exciting coil 1 a 1, and the rotor 1 b becomes stable.

[0006] Next, excitation step S8 is reached. When the b-side of the exciting coil 1 a 2 becomes the N pole and the a-side of the exciting coil 1 a 1 becomes the S pole, the rotor 1 b turns by 9 degrees in an arrow Y1 direction from the position of excitation step S1 and stops, whereby the pointer 2 shifts in an arrow Y3 direction (FIG. 5).

[0007] Following the above, when the b-side of the exciting coil 1 a 2 and the a-side of the exciting coil 1 a 1 are respectively controlled as follows:

[0008] N pole, non-excited state (excitation step S7)→

[0009] N pole, N pole (excitation step S6)→

[0010] non-excited state, N pole (excitation step S5)→

[0011] S pole, N pole (excitation step S4)→

[0012] S pole, non-excited state (excitation step S3)→

[0013] S pole, S pole (excitation step S2), the rotor 1 b turns by 9 degrees each time following the change of the excitation state.

[0014] And, when the excitation state of excitation step S8 is generated again from excitation step S1, the rotor 1 b rotates again by 9 degrees in the arrow Y1 direction and becomes stable. Like the above, the rotor 1 b turns by 9 degrees every step in the arrow Y1 direction by repeatedly controlling the excitation state of the exciting coils 1 a 1, 1 a 2 according to the excitation pattern consisting of the excitation steps S8 to S1.

[0015] And, in order to rotate the rotor 1 b in an arrow Y2 direction, the excitation state of the exciting coils 1 a 1, 1 a 2 is controlled according to a pattern reverse to the above excitation pattern, i.e. from SI toward S8, whereby the pointer 2 shifts in an arrow Y4 direction (FIG. 5).

[0016] Next, an operation of the above indicating apparatus used for a vehicle-speedometer, for example, is described hereinafter. An angle data D1 is supplied to the drive controller 4, which angle data D1 shows a rotation angle of the rotor 1 b corresponding to a travel which is a difference between a target position of the pointer 2 and a present position thereof. The target position of the pointer 2 is calculated on the basis of speed information from a speed sensor. And, by means of the drive controller 4 controlling an excitation state of the exciting coils 1 a 1, 1 a 2 according to this angle data D1, the pointer 2 shifts by only the above travel and indicates the target position.

[0017] With respect to the above indicating apparatus, however, a power swing caused by an input of the angle data D1 affected by vibration and noise of the vehicle body could be brought about, wherein an actual travel of the pointer 2 differs from the target travel of the pointer 2. And, if the power swing is repeated, a difference arises between the speed indicated by the pointer 2 and the speed information from the speed sensor, whereby the indicating apparatus can not carry out an accurate indication.

[0018] In order to solve such a problem, as shown in FIG. 5, a stopper 5 is provided at a position at which the pointer 2 indicates zero (for example, 0km/h) so as to stop the pointer 2 thereat by shifting the pointer 2 toward the stopper 5 every timing of ignition ON/OFF or battery connection. That is, a reset operation to reset the difference between the speed indicated by the pointer 2 and the speed information from the speed sensor is carried out. Hereinafter, a rotation in the arrow Yl direction is called a reverse rotation. On the contrary, a rotation in the arrow Y2 direction is called a normal rotation.

[0019] With respect to the above prior art indicating apparatus, however, the rotor 1 b has to be reversed so that the pointer 2 securely abuts the stopper 5. That is, the rotor 1 b has to be reversed so that the pointer 2 can return larger than a normal deflection. Therefore, because the above reset operation has to be carried out regardless of the presence or absence of the difference between the speed indicated by the pointer 2 and the speed information from the speed sensor, much time is required for the reset operation.

[0020] And, because the excitation state of the exciting coils 1 a 1, 1 a 2 is continuously controlled even though the pointer 2 has fully returned to the stopper 5, the pointer 2 repeats abutting and leaving the stopper 5, thereby making an unpleasant clattering noise.

[0021] In order to solve the above problem, the indicating apparatus which closes the reset operation simultaneously with the abutment of the pointer 2 against the stopper 5 is proposed. That is, because induction voltage is generated in the exciting coil 1 a 1 or 1 a 2 being in a non-excited state while the pointer 2 is not in contact with the stopper 5 and therefore the rotor 1 b is moving, and, on the other hand, because induction voltage is not generated in the exciting coil being in a non-excited state while the pointer 2 is in contact with the stopper 5 and therefore the rotor 1 b is stopping, the voltage generated in either, being in the non-excited state, of the exciting coils can be detected at a timing of the exciting coil being controlled into the non-excited state.

[0022] And, whether or not the induction voltage has been generated is judged, and if yes, movement of the pointer 2 is stopped on a judgment that the pointer 2 has abutted the stopper 5.

[0023] However, the rotor 1 b is not likely to stop immediately after the pointer 2 abutted the stopper 5 but to further turn by some gap of gears 3.

[0024] And, the rotor 1 b is continuously controlled to reverse in the state that the pointer 2 is in contact with the stopper 5, the rotor 1 b sometimes normally rotates at a timing of the exciting coils 1 a 1, 1 a 2 being changed to the proper excited states.

[0025] Specifically, if the pointer 2 is to abut the stopper 5, for example, in a state of the exciting coils 1 a 1, 1 a 2 being in the excitation state regulated at excitation step S2, and when the pointer 2 is abutting the stopper 5 and the rotor 1 b is stopping at the position shown in excitation step S2, the rotor 1 b could normally rotate near excitation step S4 if the exciting coils 1 a 1, 1 a 2 are continuously controlled according to an excitation pattern of S1→S8→S7→S6→S5→S4→S3→S2→S1. . .

[0026] Induction voltage is generated by the normal rotation of the rotor 1 b at step S3 even though the pointer 2 has already abutted the stopper 5, and therefore it can not be detected that the pointer 2 has arrived at the predetermined. A time-period of a completely stopping state of the rotor after the abutment of the pointer 2 against the stopper 5 is the one from excitation step S8 to excitation step S5 and is a very short. The time-period of the completely stopping state of the rotor after the abutment of the pointer 2 against the stopper 5 could become shorter according to a state of magnetization of the rotor 1 b and so on.

[0027] With respect to the prior art apparatus, however, because the presence of the induction voltage can be detected only at the timing of the non-excited state, detection of the abutment of the pointer 2 against the stopper 5 would be difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0028] In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide a stepping motor which can securely detect an abutment of a driven member against a stopper and a driving apparatus which can also securely detect an abutment of a driven member against a stopper.

[0029] In order to achieve the above object, as a first aspect of the present invention, a stepping motor comprises: exciting coils; a rotor provided with a plurality of N/S poles so as to rotate following a change of an excitation state of the exciting coils; and a detecting coil provided separately from the exciting coils so as to generate induction voltage according to rotation of the rotor.

[0030] According to the invention with the first aspect, because the detecting coil is provided besides the exciting coils, the presence or absence of induction voltage generated in the detecting coil can be detected at each excitation step. Therefore, because whether or not the rotor is turning or stopping can be judged, the abutment of the driven member against the stopper can be securely detected.

[0031] As a second aspect of the present invention, based on the first aspect, the exciting coils are provided along a peripheral surface of the rotor, and the detecting coil is provided at a center of a longest peripheral surface between adjoining exciting coils.

[0032] According to the invention with the second aspect, because the detecting coil is provided at a center of a longest peripheral surface between adjoining exciting coils, the detecting coil can be prevented from receiving an influence from the excitation state of the exciting coils, thereby further securely ensuring to detect the abutment of the driven member against the stopper.

[0033] As a third aspect of the present invention, a driving apparatus comprises: a stepping motor having: exciting coils, a rotor provided with a plurality of N/S poles so as to rotate following a change of an excitation state of the exciting coils, and a detecting coil provided separately from the exciting coils so as to generate induction voltage according to rotation of the rotor; a driven member linked with the rotor; a stopper to mechanically stop the driven member at a predetermined position; a first exciting means to normally or reversely rotate the rotor by controlling the excitation state of the exciting coils; a second exciting means to reverse the rotor in a direction of making the driven member move toward the predetermined position by controlling the excitation state of the exciting coils; a position detecting means to detect the driven member having abutted the stopper and stopped at the predetermined position on a basis of induction voltage generated in the detecting coil during control by the second exciting means; and a controlling means which stops the first exciting means controlling and starts the second exciting means controlling when an instruction signal is inputted, and which starts the first exciting means controlling and stops the second exciting means controlling when the position detecting means detects the driven member having stopped at the predetermined position.

[0034] According to the invention with the third aspect, in the stepping motor, the rotor provided with a plurality of N/S poles rotates following a change of an excitation state of the exciting coils, and the detecting coil provided separately from the exciting coils generates induction voltage according to rotation of the rotor. And, the stopper mechanically stops the driven member at a predetermined position. And also, the first exciting means normally or reversely rotates the rotor by controlling the excitation state of the exciting coils. Further, the second exciting means reverses the rotor in a direction of making the driven member move toward the predetermined position by controlling the excitation state of the exciting coils.

[0035] The position detecting means detects the driven member having abutted the stopper and stopped at the predetermined position on a basis of induction voltage generated in the detecting coil during control by the second exciting means. And, the controlling means stops the first exciting means controlling and starts the second exciting means controlling when an instruction signal is inputted, and also starts the first exciting means controlling and stops the second exciting means controlling when the position detecting means detects the driven member having stopped at the predetermined position.

[0036] Therefore, because the detecting coil is provided besides the exciting coils, the presence or absence of induction voltage generated in the detecting coil can be detected at each excitation step. Therefore, because whether or not the rotor is turning or stopping can be judged, the abutment of the driven member against the stopper can be securely detected in the driving apparatus.

[0037] The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTON OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038]FIG. 1 is a schema showing an embodiment of a stepping motor of the present invention;

[0039]FIG. 2 is a schema showing an indicating apparatus as a driving apparatus in which the stepping motor of FIG. 1 is mounted;

[0040]FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a drive controller of the indicating apparatus of FIG. 2;

[0041]FIG. 4 is a timing chart of excitation pulses outputted from a second excitation circuit of FIG. 3;

[0042]FIG. 5 is a schema showing a prior art indicating apparatus as the driving apparatus in which a conventional stepping motor is mounted; and

[0043] FIGS. 6A-6H are schemata each showing a relation between an excitation state of the exciting coils and rotation of the rotor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

[0044] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0045]FIG. 1 is a schema showing an embodiment of a stepping motor of the present invention. The stepping motor 1 has exciting coils 1 a 1,1 a 2 wound up on a stator 1 d, a rotor 1 b on which five sets of N/S poles are magnetized in turn and which rotates following a change of an excitation state of the exciting coils 1 a 1, 1 a 2, and detecting coil 1 c in which induction voltage is generated according to rotation of the rotor 1 b.

[0046] The above stepping motor 1, as shown in FIG. 2, is a component of an indicating apparatus, which stepping motor acts as a driving apparatus to drive a pointer being a driven member. The indicating apparatus has a pointer 2 as the driven member being linked with the rotor 1 b, a gear 3 to transmit the rotational drive of the rotor 1 b to the pointer 2, a drive controller 4 to rotate the rotor 1 b normally or reversely by controlling the excitation state of the exciting coils 1 a 1, 1 a 2, and a stopper 5 to mechanically stop the pointer 2 at a zero position (a predetermined position).

[0047] Next, the structure of the above drive controller 4 is described. The drive controller 4, as shown in FIG. 3, has a first excitation circuit 4 a (a first exciting means) to control the excitation state of the exciting coils 1 a 1, 1 a 2 by outputting an excitation pulse (not shown) to rotate the rotor 1 b normally or reversely according to an angle data D1, and a second excitation circuit 4 b (a second exciting means) to control the excitation state of the exciting coils 1 a 1, 1 a 2 by outputting excitation pulses P11-P14 to reverse the rotor 1 b.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 4, the above excitation pulses P11-P14 have different phases each other so that the rotor 1 b can turn by 9 degrees per one step. By inputting the excitation pulses P11-P14 to a-side and b-side of the exciting coil 1 a 2 and to b-side and a-side of the exciting coil 1 a 1, the excitation state of the exciting coils 1 a 1, 1 a 2 changes correspondingly to excitation steps S8 to S1 as shown in FIG. 4, and the rotor 1 b reverses following the change of the excitation state.

[0049] The drive controller 4, as shown in FIG. 3, has a selector circuit 4 c, consisting of four OR gates, to output any of pulses outputted from the first excitation circuit 4 a and of the excitation pulses P11-P14 to the exciting coils 1 a 1, 1 a 2, and a position detection circuit 4 d (a position detecting means) to receive a voltage V1 applied to the detecting coil 1 c every excitation step, to judge the presence or absence of the induction voltage on the basis of the voltage V1, and to detect whether or not the rotor 1 b is turning or stopping with the pointer 2 being abutting the stopper 5 at the zero position.

[0050] The drive controller 4 further has a control circuit 4 e (a controlling means), which stops the control by the first excitation circuit 4 a when an instruction signal S3 outputted at the timing of the ignition ON/OFF, the connection with the vehicle-mounted battery, or the like is inputted and starts the control by the second excitation circuit 4 b, and which starts the control by the first excitation circuit 4 a when the position detection circuit 4 d detects the stopping of the pointer 2 at the zero position with abutting the stopper 5 and stops the control by the second excitation circuit 4 b.

[0051] An operation of the above indicating apparatus is described hereinafter. When the instruction signal S3 is outputted, the control circuit 4 e starts the reset operation and outputs the rejection signal to make the first excitation circuit 4 a reject to input of the angle data D1. With the input of the rejection signal, the first excitation circuit 4 a stops outputting the excitation pulse so as to stop the control of the excitation state of the exciting coils 1 a 1, 1 a 2.

[0052] And, the control circuit 4 e makes the second excitation circuit 4 b output the excitation pulses P11-P14 to start the control of the exciting coils 1 a 1, 1 a 2. When the excitation pulses P11-P14 are inputted, the exciting coils 1 a 1, 1 a 2 are excited according to excitation steps shown in FIG. 4, whereby the rotor 1 b reverses every 9 degrees. And, the pointer 2 is shifted toward the stopper 5.

[0053] At this time, if the pointer 2 is rotating in the arrow Y3 direction, induction voltage is generated in the detecting coil 1 c with the 9 degrees rotation of the rotor 1 b at each excitation step. On the other hand, while the pointer 2 is stopping with abutting the stopper 5, no voltage is induced in the detecting coil 1 c. Therefore, when it is judged at each excitation step that the induction voltage is not generated on the basis that the voltage V1 from the detecting coil 1 c is not more than a specified value according to a non-shown comparison device, a detection signal, which indicates that the pointer 2 is stopping with abutting the stopper 5, is outputted to the control circuit 4 e.

[0054] And, the control circuit 4 e stops outputting the rejection signal according to this detection signal, whereby the control by the first excitation circuit 4 a is started, the output of the excitation pulses P11-P14 from the second excitation circuit 4 b is stopped, and the control by the second excitation circuit 4 b is stopped, thereby stopping the reset operation.

[0055] As stated above, because the detecting coil 1 c is provided besides the exciting coils 1 a 1, 1 a 2, the presence or absence of induction voltage generated in the detecting coil 1 c can be detected at each excitation step. That is, whether or not the rotor 1 b is turning or stopping can be judged. Therefore, the abutment of the pointer 2 against the stopper 5 can be securely detected.

[0056] And, as shown in FIG. 1, the exciting coils 1 a 1, 1 a 2 are provided along the peripheral surface of the rotor 1 b at an angle of 90 degrees (not shown) each other. And, the detecting coil 1 c is provided along the longer peripheral surface between the exciting coils 1 a 1, 1 a 2 at the center thereof.

[0057] In case that the exciting coils more than two are provided, the detecting coil 1 c is provided along the longest peripheral surface, at the center thereof, between the adjoining two exciting coils.

[0058] Therefore, the detecting coil 1 c can be prevented from receiving an influence from the excitation state of the exciting coils 1 a 1, 1 a 2, thereby further securely ensuring to detect the abutment of the driven member against the stopper 5.

[0059] Although the present invention has been fully described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, unless otherwise such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention, they should be construed as being included therein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A stepping motor, comprising: exciting coils; a rotor provided with a plurality of N/S poles so as to rotate following a change of an excitation state of the exciting coils; and a detecting coil provided separately from the exciting coils so as to generate induction voltage according to rotation of the rotor.
 2. The stepping motor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the exciting coils are provided along a peripheral surface of the rotor, and the detecting coil is provided at a center of a longest peripheral surface between adjoining exciting coils.
 3. A driving apparatus, comprising: a stepping motor having: exciting coils, a rotor provided with a plurality of N/S poles so as to rotate following a change of an excitation state of the exciting coils, and a detecting coil provided separately from the exciting coils so as to generate induction voltage according to rotation of the rotor; a driven member linked with the rotor; a stopper to mechanically stop the driven member at a predetermined position; a first exciting means to normally or reversely rotate the rotor by controlling the excitation state of the exciting coils; a second exciting means to reverse the rotor in a direction of making the driven member move toward the predetermined position by controlling the excitation state of the exciting coils; a position detecting means to detect the driven member having abutted the stopper and stopped at the predetermined position on a basis of induction voltage generated in the detecting coil during control by the second exciting means; and a controlling means which stops the first exciting means controlling and starts the second exciting means controlling when an instruction signal is inputted, and which starts the first exciting means controlling and stops the second exciting means controlling when the position detecting means detects the driven member having stopped at the predetermined position. 